Why Shearing and Body Condition Scoring is Sooo Important For Sheep Farming

In this video we show #shearing our sheep a few weeks before lambing and why we do this. You will see how we handle our sheep for this job and the importance of shearing for the health of the sheep.
We discuss also the importance of #body condition scoring sheep to keep them in good health to prepare for their lambing period.
This is all a part of the big picture of #sheepfarming!
Thanks for watching!
Jeff

[@ser3589]

Another great video. Love to watch shearing. Thank you

[@michaelwalsh648]

Good video. I noticed several large holes in the canvas siding. Aren't you concerned this is drafty and a risk of pneumonia in the lambs? I would think there are patch kits available. Good luck with lambing season.

[@valleyridgefarms]

I don't think I have ever had to treat a sheep for pneumonia. Draft doesn't seem to be an issue. Having said all that, we should fix the tarp...We may have to replace the whole thing soon though anyways...

[@shepherdewan]

Elvis is a good boy

[@noahbrougher8248]

Wish we could get Rideau here in the US! Seem like heavy lambers

[@valleyridgefarms]

What about polypay?

[@noahbrougher8248]

@@valleyridgefarms I have them now, very good sheep but just don’t really get up in the quads like the rideaus They perform well but from what I see the rideaus seem to do better

[@valleyridgefarms]

Well, I'm usually happy with lots of triplets, don't need quads...but yea, I've heard they're kind of similar in many ways

[@user-zu2bw7ig5v]

If you put a 1x6 or 2x6 on edge on the floor running across your chute in between the gate sections they work great to stop the ewes from backing up down the lane

[@valleyridgefarms]

Yes, I 've heard that too. Just haven't implemented it yet...😏

[@shepherdewan]

@@valleyridgefarms I have video on KZbin called Ewan cuddling Rachel on his birthday 🎂 Rachel is a black sheep

[@shepherdewan]

@@valleyridgefarms that 🐑 is being a very good girl

[@shepherdewan]

@@valleyridgefarms they’re so cute 🥰 look at their wee faces

[@shepherdewan]

@@valleyridgefarms Albert is a good boy

[@mithall4198]

How strict is your culling program? Do you give the open ewe lambs a pass the first year?

[@valleyridgefarms]

I usually leave the ram in with ewe lambs for 60 days. If they don't breed within that time frame, yes, they get culled.

[@michaelgroot2605]

Hey, what is the size of that building?

[@valleyridgefarms]

40 x 200 ft

[@noahbrougher8248]

What weight and age do you market your lambs at?

[@valleyridgefarms]

Depends on many things. Time of year mostly, the prices at any given time, what I need for cash flow, but breeding stock goes at around 100lbs. Most ram lambs also go at around 100 lbs.

[@villagesheepkm1276]

Their wool need to shear

[@keithroberts4559]

It would help if you had a Shearer who could shear properly. I comment as a New Zealand sheep farmer with 40,000 sheep. Sheep are shorn not sheared

[@valleyridgefarms]

What would that help with...? Sorry you were offended by something. This wasn't a how to video, just a how we do it video. Thanks for your comments though, I'm sure we could learn a lot from you guys out there.

[@sonjareer6003]

a low grade fever can cause that